WAR NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 4 September 1916, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

A RAPID ADVANCE. STRATEGIC POINTS SEIZED. LONDON, September I. Though Bucharest telegrams are very much delayed,! Rome and Petrograd messages insist on the splendid results of the Roumanians’ attacks. The Bucharest bulletins show that the army is already in possession of every important pass leading to Transylvania. The Roumanians, hastily descending the Carpathians in the direction of Brasso, siezed two tunnels before the surprised Austrians were able to destroy them. The rapid advance was aided by magnificent aeroplane reconnaissances, despite the mountainous Austria is poorly supplied with aeroplanes. The Allies’ mastery of the Danube is now complete. Rustchuk and other Bulgarian towns

are exposed to destruction. The Austrians claim that they are defending

the road from the Danube near Orsova, and the passes leading to Temesvar, where the Magyars are hastily fortifying the approaches. Elsewhere the Austrians admit withdrawing.

The fighting units are evidently unable to defend the frontier,, because all the troops are engaged at Trontino, Isonzo and ni Galicia.

Experts point out that the natural place to defend Transylvania is the frontier. There is no line further back which gives better advantages. It is believed that no extensive effort has been, 1 mbde (to etontruct defences <*.n the interior of Transylvania. It is evident that the initial steps of Eoumania’s enterprise were easier than expected, but people must beware of drawing sweeping conclusions, because the greater part of Transylvania is a tangle of hills and woods, unfavourable for the passage of armies.

It is officially announced from Bucharest that the Russian allies passing through Dobrudja were enthusiastically welcomed by the population.

The Russian Black Sea fleet is assisting in the defence of the Rouman-

ian seaports

Twelve thousand inhabitants hurriedly left Brasso, carrying their valuables, when the Roumanians approached, but the greater part of the population remained. Elsewhere a large part of the frontier population is fljdng to the interior of Hungary.

MAKING TOWARDS BULGARIA.. LONDON, September 1. Russian pontoons have already allowed many thousands of Russians to commence the march towards Bulgaria. The latter is delaying the declaration of war to gain as much time as possible, and more troops to the northern frontier, possibly with the hope of a separate peace to be arranged by means of the good offices of the Roumanian Government. WAR VESSELS AT ROUMANIAN PORT. PETROGRAD, September 1, Russian war vessels have arrived at Constanza (Roumanian port on the Black Sea; also called Kustendje). SERBIANS DEFEAT BULGARIANS. LONDON, September 1. Serbian cavalry have arrived at Sorovicevo. The enemy were forced to evacuate Elevis, Caldzilar and Pateli. They attempted to retake Cornicevo,, northeast of Banica, but were driven back. They are not reported to be marching cn route to Monastir.